Juliana Hardman

Ed Austin
Dance 261
21 January 2014
LDS Values and Art
It is appropriate to begin by discussing where the arts originate to then provide a
framework for us to judge and evaluate their meaning and our responsibilities towards them. Are
the arts purely physical? Are they just created by a trained eye that can see the world in novel
ways, a practiced hand that can recreate and shape, or a body that can move and express through
its form and muscularity? Though physical skill and training is required to create art and the end
product is always communicated to others through physical senses whether they see, touch, hear
or through some combination experience it, the physical means are just a frame, an empty
skeleton to fill with the true expression and power of art. For the life of art, its ability to
communicate from the creator to the audience across time, place, and cultural barriers comes
from its spiritual core.
The true source and inspiration for art is the light of Christ in all of us. Art itself appears
because there is a spark of the divine nature in Gods children, according to Newell Dayley,
former dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University. This
spark, the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things (D&C 88:13) has to be in
us and in our art for it to be able to reach out and connect us. The arts touch our lives because the
spirit of the artist, his or her light from the Spirit of Christ, is recorded in their art, then those
who see it not only experience it physically but spiritually as their spirits, their light, react to the
pieces of the artists light and spirit embedded in the unique creativity and design of the art.

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Because art is inspired by the Spirit, it is crucial for the artist to keep the Spirit with him
or her always to create art that is beautiful, wholesome, and untainted. Art that is centered in
Christradiates light and is filled with hopeis miraculous in its manifestation of beauty and
love, [and] plants joy in the hearts of those who are seeking to be like Christ, (Dayley) while
Forms of art created by the Great Deceiverinviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is
evil continuallysets the artist up as a light to the world for the purpose of getting gain and
praise of the worldis dark and hopeless, [and] is made to appear wonderful, even though it
embodies darkness and sin, (Dayley). Art inspired by the Spirit will uplift and edify, while art
inspired by the devil will belittle, discourage, and lead to sin even if covered by a beautiful
surface. Dance is powerful in particular because it is a mixture of both visual and auditory
presentations, and therefore can have a greater impact on the viewer for good or for bad. David
A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, explained, the Spirit cannot abide that
which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, so we must be careful as dancers to not present anything
that drives the Spirit away and also careful as audience members to avoid those performances
which do not invite the Spirit into our lives. Once we force the Spirit out of our lives through
what we dance or what we see, our art will no longer be inspired by it and will become dark and
loathsome until we are able to bring the Spirit back into our lives and with it its beauty and
uplifting power.
Though the life of art comes from the light of Christ and the Spirit, it is impossible to
create art, particularly in the art form of dance, without our physical bodies, for the instrument
through which dance speaks isthe human body, expressed Martha Graham, a pioneer in
modern dance (118). Yet many have encountered feelings of low self-esteem because of
physique and appearanceMany people wish their bodies could be more to their liking, stated

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Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Every dancer desires better rotation,
greater flexibility, and increased strength from their bodies. We become so concerned and upset
with what are bodies lack that we forget what abilities they do have; the marvel of our physical
bodies is often overlooked, (Nelson). That our bodies can do all we ask of them as dancers, that
they can twist, stretch, bend, leap day in and day out through our classes, rehearsals, and
performances is truly a miracle. The human body is not perfect in this mortal existence, but that
does not mean that its capabilities are not enormous. Furthermore, as we use art and dance
creatively to celebrate all of the things God has created, we will be able to see the wondrous
order of [them], their infinite beauty, their scope, but also their incredible detail, (Maxwell) with
the greatest of these things that we will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of being
our intricate and miraculous bodies.
Art, especially dance, is a fusion of the vitality of the spirit and physicality of the body,
and therefore it is the responsibility of the artist to take care of both. Russell M. Nelson again
counseled us to not let anything enter the body that might defile it. This includes harmful
physical substances such as drugs or alcohol, but also harmful spiritual influences that encourage
lust, jealousy, anger, or other sinful desires. Besides avoiding those things that could damage the
body or spirit, it is also crucial to actively train and exercise the body as well as the spirit. Elder
Nelson stated, Just as physical strength requires exercise, so spiritual strength requires effort.
For him, prayer is among the most important of spiritual exercises, but we could add to the list
regular scripture study, church attendance, and temple worship as exercises that keep our spirits
in shape. As we keep both our bodies and our spirits healthy, they will be better able to shape and
define the art that we ask them to create.
All art allows us to combine the efforts of our bodies and our minds to create innovative

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and expressive works. These works inspire the most joy and light in others when they in turn are
inspired by the Spirit of Christ and become dark and despairing when they come from the power
of Satan. We must therefore protect ourselves and keep our art pure and beautiful by only making
and viewing art that is edifying, by only allowing in those things of worth and strengthening our
bodies and spirits against the power of the adversary. As we strive to create art through the
guidance of the Holy Ghost, our art will draw us closer to Christ and will help us to better love
and serve Him and to have a greater appreciation for the world which He has created for us.

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Works Cited
Bednar, David A.. That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us. Salt Lake City: Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2006. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. < www.lds.org/generalconference/ >.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
2013. Print.
Dayley, Newell. Centering the Arts in Christ. Provo: Brigham Young University, 2001. Web. 22
Jan. 2014. <speeches.byu.edu/ >.
Graham, Martha. I am a Dancer. Resource and Selected Readings. Provo: Brigham Young
University, 2014. Print.
Maxwell, Neal A.. Creativity. The New Era. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, 1982. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. < www.lds.org/new-era/ >.
Nelson, Russell M.. We Are Children of God. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, 1998. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. < www.lds.org/general-conference/ >.